Club Support Director

2022-2023

Let us start by saying that we can think of few positions as essential as Club Support/Membership Director. This position is literally the Emergency Response Unit of the District. We are police dept when trying to deal with conflict resolution, the paramedics when clubs aren’t well, the fire dept when situations explode in a club, and the Trauma Ward when helping clubs heal.

We are here for you. To celebrate you in your successes, comfort you in your losses, rolling up our sleeves when you are building, and holding a compass when you are navigating.

Vice Governors Carol and Shawn
District 1 Club Support Directors

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2021-2022

(No reports filed)

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2020-2021

Post FLC!
Congratulations to Governors Tim and Eileen for a very informative and well orchestrated virtual FLC!
Thank You to all members who were able to join in and participated in the meetings, breakouts and fine session of the day! It wasn't easy to sit in a meeting when the weather was so beautiful outside, your attendance was appreciated!
For those who attended the Town Hall Breakout, Thank you for the fantastic participation and respect shown for those presenting and sharing! The Notes taken during the session will be posted here in a separate post and to the D1 facebook page. We did have the concerns about the Kin U link answered and here is the link I was sent
www.kin-u.ca/login/index.php

Membership Retention is the mission this year, and adding members is an option. We just have to be sure that the folks we bring out to help at events and eventually to a meeting ( as Shaan suggested to us yesterday) are truly perspective members. This is different than inviting a guest speaker to come and do a presentation. This is still being discouraged as part of the covid stay safe plans recommended by National
Keeping members involved is trying for sure , but many clubs shared great ideas and I will be sharing those in the Breakout

FLC TOWNHALL

Here are the notes from the breakout session,
Participants 23
Challenges experienced by clubs:
- most projects previously were with the public, virtual ones are a challenge, also getting attendance in meetings
⁃ Adapting to doing things online, not all members comfortable with it
⁃ Expenses still encountered by clubs with property/ buildings that are usually booked and have the $$$ coming in to cover those costs
⁃ Attracting new members difficult when there is little to no interaction or opportunity to become involved in the club
⁃ Large fundraisers that typically involve sponsorships from businesses may not be able to continue with the impact of covid on those businesses as well
⁃ Looking at possible future events that need extra volunteers and how to recruit them
⁃ Zoom meetings aren’t the answer for every club and there is a disconnect with those that are not able to participate in them
Positives experienced:
⁃ has seen more ‘out of the box’ thinking by members on ways to get things accomplished from meetings to events
⁃ A few have added members
⁃ New and different fundraisers, increased community awareness.
⁃ Working together to complete projects that had been committed to previously( out door ones) kept them in touch with each other as members and with their community
⁃ Has made us think differently about things we want/can do
⁃ Some projects have improved by going online with them
⁃ Some clubs have been able to do both face to face and zoom meetings at the same time for members wishing to do so
⁃ Santa parades are being altered some to stationary drive through and others Santa is doing the driving around the towns
⁃ Increased support on online events has also increased the ability to support local businesses and keeping things close to home
How to Prevail:
⁃ keep communication open among members and community partners giving them support
⁃ Reach out to other service clubs in town collaborate on events if possible
⁃ Keep the community informed of what you are planning or need support for
⁃ Be open to and embrace new or re-visited ideas, the world has changed and so must we
⁃ Have an up beat attitude which will attract others
⁃ Be visible in you community when you can and show them that you have fun doing what you do
Supports available to clubs:
⁃ Covid Relief package which was just up-dated Nov. 5/20 to address some additional needs - contact HQ
⁃ The Service Database on iKin, look for possible projects for your club to try or maybe add one that has worked for you
⁃ Stay involved in personal development, Check out KinU to see what courses you can sign up for, always learn something
⁃ https://www.kin-u.ca
⁃ Connect with other clubs in your zone or close by, partner if you can in some social activity online or social distanced
⁃ Continue to lead your members and your community

Welcome Back!
Kin the Covid way is going to be very different from our usual process, BUT this does not mean that we can't change the way we do things!
My focus this year will be Retention! If we can all keep our current roster numbers steady, and keep everyone involved and keep our Kin belief that we can serve the community's greatest need, we will come out of this more united and stronger together. We hope to be able to welcome new members this year but understand the difficulties in attracting new members and sharing the Kin experience when numbers and meetings are curtailed.
You will start to see on this page, your Zone pages and District 1 face book page, a list of projects that fellow clubs have been able to successfully adapt to today's climate. They have seen a renewed sense of pride in their club, an outlet to raise funds for their community, and show their community they are still there, all under the restrictions imposed by the various legislative parties. Be sure to share your successes too!

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2019-2020

Well Covid19 has certainly changed the way we do things in a BIG way! Cancelled Zone Conferences, meetings, fundraisers, major events, and community support events. BUT after a period of 'mourning' for what didn't happen, you are finding ways to make it work! Virtual meetings, Zoom socials, video thank yous to our essential workers, getting things done in the best manner for members and the clubs. WELL DONE EVERYONE!
Speaking of members, as of March 31st we have 81 new members this year in D1, so close to the challenge target! Upon reading the March stats I noticed that our 'pending members' number was significantly reduced but our 'new' members were not equally increased. I asked 'why' and got this response: "any pending member that was 6 months or more on the list, was removed. Attempts will be made to contact the Presidents to find out if the member is still with the club" So if you have a member that is not yet approved, or their membership package has not been received, and it has been 5-6 months, reach out to Melina at her Kin Canada email and check to see where they are in the process. Some reasons for the delay, lack of response from applicants to requested information. Missing information on the application form ( phone #, emails) which means they can't contact the person. We can all help by being sure to fill in all the blanks!
Stay tuned for the Results of the Membership Challenge and how the BBQ will be awarded.
In the mean time, continue doing what you do so well, keep asking folks to join in what you do!
We Shall Over Come!!!

Zone Conference Season is upon us! The time to celebrate all that you and your clubs have done over the past year. The Kin year is far from over, but as we all know, the last few months are so busy, they fly by even faster! Be sure to acknowledge the great work of the members of your Zone. Step outside the box and enter into a Zone competition, a Quill, a Speech, Communication, or Photography Awards are all there to challenge you at the same time as helping you grow in your Kin journey. Don't forget to include your new members at Zone Conference. That bigger picture is often the Ah Ha moment that puts them on a long Kin journey of their own! Good luck to all competitors, you have met the challenge by simply entering!
In my previous message I mentioned, in passing, that it would be pretty awesome if we added 100 new members to District 1 for the 100th Anniversary. Well no longer is it just a thought, it is the newest challenge I am putting out there. 100 new members between January 1 2020 and December 31 2020! Totally doable District One, we are already on our way!
Thank you to all of the clubs that have welcomed me into your meetings, shared your positive energy, and have made a change in your club and your community this year!
I look forward to celebrating with all of you at District in Fort Erie. Who will win the What's The Beef BBQ? You?

Welcome to 2020, the 100th Anniversary Year of Kin Canada!
What an association this would be if we had a current membership equal to all members who have joined since February 20, 1920! What amazing things we could achieve!

Amazing achievements are still a possibility, due to you the current membership! You are the members who can make this 100th Anniversary stand out in the Association's history!

How and what you do to recognize it, is totally up to you as members and clubs. Will you host a special event in your community to recognize the milestone? Share the history of your club and the Association in local media, reminding your community all you have supported and added to it? What about contacting past members and inviting them to an anniversary party? Maybe it will be the sharing of Kin with some new members? What ever way your club decides to celebrate remember to share what you do! Let us share the successes and accomplishments together, making District 1 an even more amazing district!

Our current Membership challenge is getting closer to the target number of 87 and with a 5 months of the year still left to add members it is quite possible we will surpass that. What if we were to add 100 new members in 2020? That would certainly be worth celebrating across the District!
Keep up the amazing effort District 1!

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to All Members of Kin across the District!

December brings with it a flurry of frozen precipitation that covers our lawns, streets, and homes. This is so much like what the Kin of D1 are doing as well. Covering their communities with love and caring by organizing Christmas Parades, Food Bank collections, Adopting a local family, selling Christmas Trees, hosting Christmas Bazaars and the list goes on and on. We support each other more over the holidays, social times together, more 'fun' in our fundraising, and celebrating our successes of the last few months and planning for the 100th Anniversary of our Association in 2020! You are an amazing group of Kin District 1! Celebrate the season the best way you know how. From my home to yours, Blessings of the Season!

October Update!

Welcome to our newest Kinsmen Club, Collingwood Kinsmen joined our ranks on Sept. 18, 2019. 13 enthusiastic and excited gentlemen said 'I Do' to Kin and then jumped right in to their first project a few days later. Going to see great things come from this club.

Bring a Buddy/Guest events are springing up across the District and to date 13 men and women have gotten to know about Kin. Well done Fort Erie Kinettes (4) and Harriston Kinsmen (9) can't wait to see your rosters grow!

Our total membership at the end of September was down from August BUT as we know many clubs house clean in September, and life comes into play for many. With the efforts we are seeing from clubs to increase their numbers, I am confidant that our total will be on the plus side very shortly. Thank You!

Check out the thermometer and map to see who is in on the BBQ challenge so far for adding at least 1 member. Is your club there? Be the one to add that member to the roster. You could be eating on the District Executive's dime!
Until next month keep sharing and growing in Kin D1!

September - New Year - New Start

Membership, Where can we go with membership? The hopeful answer is Up! The reality answer is have clubs populated with satisfied, valued members. Members who enjoy coming to meetings, who want to work on projects, and who want to share their Kin experiences with others. If current members are not having a positive experience within their club, they will not be as apt to share it with others, and why would they?

Think for a moment about your club, the atmosphere at meetings, projects, socials, is it positive, exciting, FUN, or is it something of a more negative version? The change needs to come from the current members, but sometimes they feel they have tried it all and need some help looking at new options. That's where I hope to be able to help, looking at what the community needs are and how the club can assist in getting them fulfilled. A healthy club isn't just a matter of numbers, but how the members view and feel about their club and how they fit in. Let's work together to allow every member to feel they are in exactly the right spot for them!

Our Membership Challenge of +1 per club by May 31/20 is moving along well with many clubs already welcoming a new member. Updates on numbers can be found both here on the website and on the District face book page. A BBQ, hosted by the District Executive, for your club is up for grabs!
Have questions? Want to know more about how I can assist your club?

Please contact me momofbrats [snail] hotmail [period] com.

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Here is the link to the Healthy Club Assessment if you want to take a look.

Download this file

The Mentor and Mentee Program is a National initiative that helps join newer members to seasoned members who are willing to mentor members along the road to a successful Kin career. If you are interested in participating, here is where you can find out all the details!

Mentors Apply here
Download this file

Mentees Apply here
Download this file

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Thank you to our sponsors!